BJP trying to communalise Bihar polls: Nitish

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today cautioned people that his main rival BJP wants to disturb peaceful campaigning for state polls by conspiring to create communal tension for political advantage.

"BJP is in panic - it is without neta (leader), niti (policy) and niyat (intention) in Bihar and is facing defeat. They are brazenly attempting to communalise and mask it with (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi's rhetoric," Nitish Kumar said at election meetings in Bhagalpur and Sheikhpura district.

He targeted PM Modi by saying that the Prime Minister has been calling him Chief Minister 'ahankari' (arrogant). "I am not ahankari (arrogant). I am a Bihari, who is fighting for the self respect of Bihar and its people," he said.

The CM cited PM Modi ditched everyone who helped him to reach the top post. "Veteran BJP leader LK Advani was sidelined by him. It was Advani who took the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) from two seats to 82 seats," he said.

The polls for the 243-member Bihar Assembly will take place in five phases between October 12 and November 5, with counting slated for November 8.